Manufacture of explosives.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BOSS GEORGE SMITH, OF DERBY VILLAGE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO RAYMOND,PYNCHON COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MANUFACTURE OF EXPLOSIVES.

11' 0 Drawing.

To all whom it may concern ham, State of New Hampshire, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Explosives, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to high explosives of the perchlorate type,suitable for use in mines, shells or bombs, and for blasting or otherpurposes.

According tothis invention a mixture of ammonium perchlorate and finelydivided,

zinc such as zinc dust is employed, together with suitable carboncompounds which are not liable to reduction by the z nc. No nitrates ornitro compounds are used, as these are attacked by the zinc and renderthe latter useless. Chlorates are also avoided'. It is essential thatthe zinc powder remain unaffected until the explosive is detonated andthe perchlorate is a stable compound which does not react with the zincunder normal conditions' It has been discovered on the other hand, thatnot only do nitrates and nitro compounds react with the zinc, but thatchloratesywhich have been proposed for use in an explosive employingzinc, act in a manner quite different from perchlorates which aretherefore not equivalents in an explosive of this type. Ammoniumchlorate is moreover in itself an unstable compound and cannot beemployed owing to the fact that it undergoes spontaneous decomposition.The present invention is based on the dis covery that ammoniumperchlorate can be employed as the oxidizing agent in a zinc powderexplosive only if the more usual oxidizing agents, the chlorates andnitrates, are absent.

The carbon compounds preferred are petroleum jelly or other solid orliquid hydrocarbon and asphaltum varnish or tarry material, such as taroil with or without the addition of benzol or alcohol. The asphaltumvarnish contains some sulfur and this is desirable, so that where tarrymaterial free from sulfur is used a small quantityof sulfur, up to say5% of the said material, may be added. The varnish or equivalentsubstance acts as a water-proofing Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 16, 191 '7.

Application filed February 3, 1916. Serial No. 75,909.

and air-proofing material to prevent oxidation of the zinc or itscontact with any small quantities of substances in the explosive mlxturewhich may be reduced by the zinc.

' The following composition contains typi-" cal proportions of theingredients for 100 lbs. of a powerful explosive prepared according tothis invention: ammonium perchlorate, 82 lbs; zinc dust, 10 lbs;petroleum jelly, 5 lbs.; asphaltum varnish, 3 lbs. The powderedingredients are mixed together and the petroleum jelly and asphaltumvarnish added in succession and intimately mixed in. Some alterationsinthe proportions of the ingredients and in the nature of the organicmaterials may be made to produce any special characteristics which maybe desired. It is found that an explosive prepared in this mannerpossesses not only great stabilitybut detonates perfectly, so that noparticles are left unexploded even in the open air.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis 1. An explosive composition consisting of finely divided zinc, acombustible carbon.

compound which is stable in the presence of zinc, and ammoniumperchlorate in sufficient quantity to oxidize the other ingredients, nochlorates, nitrates or nitro compounds being present.

2. An explosive composition consisting of finely divided zinc, petroleumjelly, a waterproofing organic compound, and ammonium perchlorate insufiicient quantity to oxidize the other ingredients, no chlorates,nitrates or nitro compounds being present.

. 3. An explosive composition consisting of finely divided 'zinc,petroleum jelly, asphaltum varnish, and ammonium perchlorate insufficient quantity to oxidize the other ingredients, no chlorates,nitrates or nitro compounds being present.

4. An explosive composition consisting of the following ingredients inapproximately the following proportions :-ammonium perchlorate, 82 lbs;finely divided zinc 10 lbs.; petroleum jelly, 5 lbs.; asphaltum varnish,3 lbs. J

In testimony whereof I herewith afiix my signature.

ROSS GEORGE SMITH.

